Shoveling - tougher than you think

Dec. 29, 2012

Never smoke while shoveling. Tobacco smoke constricts blood vessels just as cold air does; the combination could be dangerous.

If you become short of breath while shoveling, stop and rest. If you feel pain or tightness in your chest, stop immediately and call for help.

Have someone monitor your progress and share the workload. If you have a heart attack, your partner can call for help and if trained, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until help arrives.

A shovel-full of dry snow can weigh about four pounds; wet snow can weigh significantly more. Warm up before shoveling by walking and stretching your arms and legs for a few minutes. Warm muscles are less likely to be injured and work more efficiently.

If you have a known health problem, use a snow blower or hire a snow removal service (or a neighborhood kid). If you hire someone, expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $60 an hour for a residential driveway and $100 an hour or more for a commercial lot.